Gubernatorial candidates take on education

The governor’s race between Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue has been heated, with each candidate attacking the others record and stance on big issues. But they agree education in North Carolina needs attention, especially with nearly a third of students dropping out before finishing high school.

Democrat Perdue says early education is the key.

“I’m really committed to doing whatever it takes to keep kids on track and at grade level. I continue to be very passionate about More at Four and Smart Start,” said Perdue.

Mayor Pat McCrory said, “I’m not going to start a new program that rhymes as the next governor. I’m going tp use the existing resources and redirect those resources to teaching kids what they need to learn to get a job.”

Republican McCrory said more emphasis needs to be given to vocational training, making sure there are enough workers in the state’s labor force. He even stated that not everyone needs a four-year college degree.

McCrory also supports the selective use of private-school vouchers.

“To help possibly disadvantaged students, to help students with learning disabilities, to help students that maybe are more advanced than others,” said McCrory

But Perdue says vouchers are an old idea and a bad one.

“Coupled with his interest in canceling the lottery and the money for vouchers would rip about a billion dollars from the hearts of the public schools in North Carolina,” stated Perdue.

McCrory admits he was opposed to the education lottery, but denies he will pull the plug on it.

“Frankly, we’re stuck with it, because they’re already spending money based on projections coming from the lottery in future years, and you can’t just cut the knees off of it,” said McCrory.

Instead McCrory said how lottery money is spent needs to be reevaluated. Perdue says the $350 million generated by the lottery are definitely a plus, but she is worried legislators may be playing a shell game with education funding.

“As Governor, I’m going to push hard to have a Constitutional referendum so that there can be no taken from existing educational sources,” said Perdue.